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2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. THOMSON. ROTARY WATER METER.

{No Model.)

Illl lIHlll Patented Oet. 25, 1887.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 2.

J. THOMSON.

ROTARY WATER METER.

No. 312,047. Patented Oct. 25,1887.

. 20, to and from the internal cylinder.

at equal degrees 'from the other.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN THOMSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ROTARY :IVATER-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,047, dated October 25, 1887.

Application filed January 12, 1887. Serial No. 252L133.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN THoMsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Meters, of which the following is a specification.

This is an invention in water-meters, and is of that class in which a continuous rotary movement is caused to effect a positive displacement.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the complete device, one of the inclosing-cylinders being removed. Fig. 2 is a combined transverse section and elevation on line C. Fig. 3 is a total horizontal section on lineS. Fig. 4 is a detail front and edge view of rotating cylinder-head. Fig. 5 is a section and end view of one of the series of displacing-rolls, and Figs. 6 and 7 are modifications thereof.

The illustration shows two bowl-shaped cylinders or domes, 10 11, clamped bybolts to the upper and lower edges of the ring 12. Formed as a part ofthis ring are two spuds, 13 14., suitablythrcaded, whereby to connect the inlet and outlet pipes. Within the ring is an internal cylinder, 15, connected thereto by braces, as 16, and by short necks 17 18, in line with the spuds. The spuds and necks are hollow and form an inlet, 19, and an outlet,

openings to the cylinder are enlarged both in the direction of its circumference and of its depth, for reasons to be hereinafter pointed out. Mounted upon bosses 21 22, formed on the necks, are two yokes or straddle-bars, 23 24., one on each side of the face of the internal cylinder. These yokes have bearings 25 26, in which are mounted by thejournals or pivots 27 28 the rotating cylinder heads or disks 29 30. The said pivots are secured to the disks and project therefrom on their outer surfaces only. In the disks three slots, 31 32 33, are formed, each being disposed radially Three displacing-rolls, 34 35 36, having spindles or pivots, as 87, are placed within the internal cylinder, their pivots projecting through and having bearing in the slots of the disks. The diameters of the displacing-rolls are equal each to the other; but the sum of their diameters The (No model.)

is such that they do notfill the diameter of the cylinder, and in the common space thus unoccupied between the rolls is placed the idle-roller'38. The form of the internal cylinder is a circle whose center is at 39. The forms of the disks are also circles whose centers are at 40, and this center is also the center of the axis of rotation of said disks and of the bearings of the yokes.

The operation of the parts so arranged is as follows: The inlet-current first passes, as indicated by arrow 41, to chamber R, pressure being equally transmitted to and between the wall of cylinder, cylinder heads or disks, displacing-rolls 3i and 35, and idle-roller 38; but consequent upon the rotating center of the disks being eccentric to the center of the cylinder it will be seen that the enforced positions of the slots 31 32 present to roll 35 a greater leverage on the disks with respect to their centers of rotation than that of the roll3i. Therefore the rolls and disks are forced to rotate in the direction indicated by arrows 4.4. Meantime the water in chamber Tis being expelled to outlet, as indicated by arrow 45, while the water in chamber V will next follow to outlet so soon as roll 36 will have passed the opening to cylinder at 46. Chambers T and V will in turn become receiving-chambers and chamber B outlet, and so on in successive sequence. It will be seen that the constantly-changing location of the slots, and thereby the relative locations of the rolls, produces a constant acceleration and diminution of linear velocity, and also,which is the final solution in defining the operation of the device, a constantlychanging capacity to the several chambers formed by the rolls within the internal cylinder. Therefore it follows that by simply loeating the rotating center of the disks with respect to the center of the internal cylinder,

so that the chambers presented to the inlet shall be of increasing capacity, while those presented to the outlet-shall be of diminishing capacity, we have the conditions necessary to produce dynamic action.

The inlet and outlet openings to the internal cylinder are extended only partially across its surface, as in this wise proper bearing is presented to the rolls as they pass the openings. These openings are also extended circumfer- ICO entially, so that, with any roll in the center of the opening, there will still be ample area to means all the space around the cylindenheads the disks develops rotative friction only.

and between the external cylinders, chamber Y, is filled with water and maintained at the greatest or initial pressure of the current. Proper registration of the water thus displaced may be had by connecting either of the disks to any suitable recording mechanism-as, say, by the arm 48 acting upon a pinion and connecting-train of gearing, as shown. This arrangement and construction produces the following desirable results: Rolling contact only is had between the peripheral surfaces of the rolls and the cylinder. Rolli ng contact is also nearly, though not entirely, produced between the rolls and the idle-roller. The error in this contact is that due to the difference in linear velocity of the rolls, as of 8; and 35, when in position assumed in the figures; but as the direction of rotation of all the rolls is common and proper to the idle-roller the error ad mitted is inconsequential in practice, being differential in its action. Aside from this, at fast rates of operation, the displacingrolls tend to relieve the idlc-rollcr in consequence of the centrifugal force developed in the rolls. The action ofthe sides or faces of the rolls upon The action of the disks develops only rotative friction between their faces, the bearing-edges 49 50 of the internal cylinder, and the faces of the rolls. No reciprocating action is produced in any part, as the rolls and the disks are cylinders acting in true circles of revolution. The

current which passes the meter is practically uninterrupted, being subjected simply to a slight deflection from a straight line.

By connecting the space surrounding the internal cylinder and disks with the current at 50 the point of its greatest initial pressure it is insured that the loss of energy due to the op eration of the disks, rolls, and registering mechanism shall be greatest within the internal cylinder. Therefore the excess of pressure of the outer envelopingchamber, Y, tends to force the disks to their bearings on the faces of the cylinder, and hence automaticallytakes up any wear in these parts. The reverse of this, if so desired for any purpose, would be produced by closing the duct 47 to the inlet and connecting chamber Y to the outlet neck.

I prefer that the meter be operated with the axis of the internal cylinder in a horizontal plane, as in this wise the disks are supported on their journals and the rolls on their periphcries.

As to the material to be used in the construction of the parts, the internal cylinder, with the rings and spnds, may be of brass or other non-corrosive metal. The disks maybe of brass or hard rubber, and the slots may have flanged extensions, as 51, whereby to present greater bearing'suriace to the journals of the rolls. The rolls maybe ofhard rubber mounted on metal spindles, as shown in Fig. 5, or of hollow metal, as in Fig. 6, whereby they would be buoyant, or of metal having an elastic rubber covering, 52, asin Fig. 7. In thelatter instance the advantage would be that less accu racy would be required in fitting the diameters of the rolls, and that fine grit and sand would pass without abrasive effect.

The idle-roller may generally be formed of metal tubing or solid hard rubber.

\Vhat I claim is- The internal cylinder having inlet and outlet channels, in combination with the rotating disks, and the displacing-rolls having pivots acting in radial slots formed in the disks, the rolls being disposed within the cylinder between the disks, the said rolls and disks rcvolving together but on different centers of rotation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN THOMSON.

Vti tn esses:

WILLIAM THOMSON, Herman T. O. KRAUS. 

